Towel rack



. March 17 1931. w. H. PLEISS TOWEL RACK Filed May 12, 1930 I {E a mation of the rods with a flat upper and lower Patented Mar. 17, 1931 uuirsn STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER H. PLEISS, OF LUDINGTON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO HANDY THINGS MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF LUDINGTON, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION MICHIGAN 'rownn n-Aox Application filed May 12, 1930. Serial 11'0. 451,798.

This invention relates to towel racks.

In one well known construction of towel rack, a bracket for attachment to a wall, post or other support is used, and a plurality of rods are disposed one over the other between upper and lower outwardly extending arms of the bracket, and a pivot pin passed through said bracket arms and all of the rods, whereby the rods may be turned independently or individually to different positions with respect to each other and to the bracket. I

The rods preferably are of circular form in cross section and the mounting of the same at one end in the manner described is very unsatisfactory. For strength and reinforce ment and to maintain the rods against splitting it has been common practice to place a metal ferrule over the ends of the rods which are mounted on the bracket but, as there is only a line contact between adjacent ferrules, any proper mounting of the rods so that they will not become loose or incline downwardly to some extent at an angle to the horizontal is practically impossible while in addition the attachment of the ferrules so as to stay tight thereon is a diificult operation; and any forside at the end portions where mounted on the bracket is a matter of expense as the economical way of producing the rods is to form thesame in a continuous length, circular in cross section, and cut off at proper lengths for the towel rods, this being a very slmple and economical way to produce thebly of the rods and all of the metal members,

two of which are used with each rod, so that when the plvot pin 1s riveted or headed over after passlng therethrough a secure, permanent and perfect connection and assembly of the parts is made.

My invention for attaining the objects and results and effects stated is described inthe following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. lis a perspective view of a towel rod made in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the plane of line 33 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction indicated, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the metal parts, two of which are used to embrace the end of each rod where connected with the supporting bracket. r

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawings.

The supporting. bracket comprises a back 1 having laterally extending ears 2 through which screws may be passed to secure the bracket to a support. The bracket is made of flat metal and at its upper and lower ends arms 3 are bent forwardly horizontally at right angles to the back 1.

The rods 4, of which any number may be used, depending upon the size of the rods and the distance between the arms 3, are of wood,

of a proper and desired length and circular in cross section,'the production of which isvery economical. With the end of each rod, which is to be located between the arms 3 of the supporting bracket. two metal embracing memhere are .used, one at theupper and the other atthe lower side of the rod. 7

Each of these members noted is formed of sheet metal with a flat upper (or lower) side 5 from which flanges 6, one at each edge, are bent at right angles and, in addition, at each end of the side5 and flanges 6 the metal is drawn intoa curved form as indicated at 7 making roundedcorners and forming an are shaped seat at each end of the metal member shaped to fit partly around the curtain rod;

so that with one of said members located under and the other over the curtain'rod, the are shaped or substantially semi-cirular en'ds ofthe metal embracing members may snugly fit or even bite into the surfaces of the rods.

As shown in Fig. 1 three of the rods are located one over the other between the upper and lower bracket arms 3, and each of the rods is equipped with two of the metal embracing members described. Openings are made through the sides 5 of said members, through the arms :3 andthrough the rods 4:, which openings, in vertical alignment, permit the passage of a headed pin 8 which, after it has passed therethrough,is riveted or headed over at its end makinga'very secure and'tight bearing of the flat sides 5 of the metal embracing members against each other and yet spacing all of the rods a short distance vertically from each other. The arms 3 are sufficiently resilientthat they may flex or give as much as may be necessary-so as to provide "a'closeand tight fitting-engagement of the sides 5 of said embracing'members with each otherand wlththe lower and upper sides of the upper andzlower arms 3rrespectively.

It is apparent .from the foregoing that a very strong, durable, efiicient,'practical and economicalconstruction ismade. The sheet metal embracing members are stamped in large quantities at very'low cost. The sup- :porting bracket'is'very readily and economically manufactured by use of dies and the assembly :is exceptionally quick and easy.

When assembledthe-embracingmembers engage snugly or bite into'the surfaces of the rods, while the flat sides 5 make a relatively wide contact, preventing any loosening or any tlltmg or sloppymovements of the rods which will'always bejfrictionally'retained in any position to which moved. The invention has proved exceptionallysatisfactory in all respects. 'Itis defined in the appended claims andis to be considered comprehensive of all dorms-of structure coming within its scope.

I claim:

1. .Adevice ofthe class described comprissing, a supporting bracket having a vertical back and upper and lower horizontal arms, ,a plurality ofrodsslocated .oneioverthe other with one end of each rod between saidrarms, :metal members one over and one :under the end portionofeach rod located'between said bracket arms, said-members havingrhorizontal contacting surfacesand formed-at their ends with are shaped recesses :tor thereceptionofthemods, and a pin extending through said bracket arms, rods and the members thereon and headed at both ends'to permanently securethe parts together and pivotplurality of round rods'located one over the other 'with oneend of each rod located :be-

tween said bracket :arms,:sheet metal members one .aboveand one below the end por tion ofeaeh'rodlocated between said bracket arms, said members having flat contacting surfaces and curved on their opposite sides to bear against the rods and a pivot pin extending through said bracket arms, rods and members mounted thereon and headed at both ends to connect the parts securely together in 'cated one over the other and having each one end thereof located between said bracket arms, two embracing members of sheetmetal associated with each rod at the endportion thereof between said bracket arms, one of said embracing members being located above and the other below the rod, and each of said members having channel cross section between its ends and being formed at each end with curved and rounded corners to thereby provide an are shaped recess at each end of each members to fit the rod, the webs of said channel portions of themembers-being located in horizontal planes'and having bearing contact with the like parts of the adjacent embracing member of the adjacent rod or with the underside of said upper bracket arm and upper side of said lower bracket arm, and a pivot pin passing through said bracket arms, embracing members and rods and headedat both ends to make a permanent and-secure connection of the parts together.

4. .A metal holding clamp for a wooden rod comprising a flat piece of metal-having portions bent at right angles from opposite sides thereof to form flanges, and intermediate portions between the ends of the flanges, said intermediate portions being shaped in conformity with the adjacent periphery of the wooden rod whereby snug engagement may be had therebetween.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. 

